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Asen expands Weaving tales Dirty hands page 9A page 1B page1C SEPTEMBER 19,1997 VOLUME 24 NUMBER 45 island 3 SECTIONS, 36 PAGES SANIBBL AISJD GAPTI^A, City files September swings Developers suit against arrested Thompson for forgery, By Mark S. Krzos News Editor A fight over needed improvements grand theft in an apartment in the Below Market By Mark S. Krzos Rate Housing program led to the filing News Editor of a lawsuit by the City of Sanibel Mark C. Naumann and Rick W. against Lazy Flamingo owner Larry Carlton of Carlton-Naumann, Inc. were Thompson Sept. 12. arrested Tuesday night after an exten- According to Director of sive joint investigation by the Sanibel Community Housing and Resources Police Department and the Lee County Jan Hyatt, the apartment above the Sheriff's Department. original Lazy Flamingo was committed The two developers were charged to the BMRH program for 18 years and with one count each of grand theft in an once a tenant leaves, the landlord, attempt to defraud the City of Sanibel Thompson, must make certain and NationsBanc Mortgage Corporation improvements. of Dallas, Tex-as. Additionally, "He did some repairs and didn't do Naumann was charged with one count others," Hyatt said explaining that the of forgery and Carlton was charged sticking point was Thompson's failure with uttering a forged document. to provide a new washer/dryer and On Aug. 14 the Lee County Sheriff's dishwasher. Office, West District and the Sanibel While Thompson admitted that he Police Department began their investi- took the old appliances out and did not gation involving the uttering of a fraud- provide new ones, he did say that CHR ulent City of Sanibel Certificate of failed to pay rent. Thompson said that Occupancy for a home being built at despite not having a tenant, CHR is still 1304 Sea Spray Lane. In so doing, the required to pay rent. two allegedly forged the Certificate of "When the people moved out, they Occupancy, which was then sent to the failed to pay me my rent," Thompson mortgage bank in Dallas to obtain the said. "When they sent me a check, it final draw of $95,000 on a home under was only half. Now I want them out." construction. Since the home had nei- Thompson said he sent CHR a ther been completed nor had the occu- notice to pay up or face a lawsuit and pancy certificate been issued, Naumann since CHR failed to do so, Thompson and Carlton were not entitled to the said an eviction notice is forthcoming. $95,000. "When they started sending me these On July 25, a final inspection by the letters threatening legal action, I did Don Hough, an employee at The Dunes Pro Shop, takes some bank appraiser revealed that the home practice shots during a quiet September afternoon on the was still not ready for the disbursement •please see page 2A island. The weather has been generous to islanders with few showers and a bounty of sunshine. of the final funds. That same day, •please see page 5A Future bank ordered to stop work after failing to preserve the past By Mark S. Krzos the trees are to remain. The trees were in the right of way, so News Editor it was not even their place to cut them down." A stop work order was issued to the builders working on But most disturbing to city officials was the fact that work the former Old Schoolhouse Gallery after a city inspection on the future site of First Independence Bank continued even found the builders making adjustments to the building they after a stop work order could be issued. were not supposed to make. "Apparently it was a lack of communication between But there were other botched plans as well. Builders Benchmark Construction and the roofers (Campbell Roofing chopped down four Australian pines in the city right of way and Sheet Metal) working on-site," Anderson said explain- and continued work on the building even after a stop work ing that the stop work oider was issued at 3 p.m. on Sept. 10. order was issued. "Sometime between then and Sept. 12 more work had been "They cut some of the siding away to put in some flash- done on the flashing." f ing," Sanibel Building Official Max Anderson said "It But no one was more upset than Sanibel Planning ^ wasn't the method we thought they should use. The shape Commissioner John Veenschoten. When the planning com- | was going to be different than the plans. You could see the mission first heard the plans for the site, Veenschoten voiced difference." a lot of concern before the commission finally approved a Lazy Flamingo I is the site of a Sanibel Planning Director Bruce Rogers said the site plan Certificate of Appropriateness. Veenschoten was then dispute between the city afford- identifies the four Australian pines, but now they are only assigned the task of overseeing the project in order to ensure able housing program and owner stumps and chipped wood. •please see page 2A Larry Thompson. "They cut them down," Rogers said. "The site plan says 2A c| SEPTEMBER 19,1997 • ISLAND REPORTER HISTORY LOST 'from page 1A the project was completed according to city plans. Meeting moves to "They did not preserve the siding.'They cut it out and destroyed it," Veenschoten said. "When they Old Schoolhouse (Benchmark) came down, they saw the problem, but A new club dedicated to helping young people they went right over the stop work order." attain their dreams and prepare them for the Veenschoten explained that when preserving an future is forming on the islands. old building, a lot of time, effort and care has to be All residents and businesses are invited to join given to the building. the new Optimist Club, Organizational meetings "You do things differently than when you build a will be held Sept, 22 and 29 at the Old new structure," Veenschoten said. "It really makes me Schoolhouse Theater on Periwinkle Way begin- sad and mad because now I feel like I let the city ning at-5:30 p.m. The group is only a few mem- down. They assured me they would preserve the bers away from its charter meeting, please join in building and they didn't. They took the easy way out to get some very exciting new programs off the I'm just so mad." ground including community theater. Mark Anderson of Benchmark Construction could The goal for the Sanibel club would be to not be reached for comment. incorporate existing Optimist programs, such as The Old School for Black Children, most recently oratory and essay contests, into the schools and to the Old Schoolhouse Gallery, has been undergoing provide additional athletic and theatrical opportu- extensive remodeling in order to restore the appear- nities for youth. One proposal would be to create ance of the old school, while adding certain additions a community theater group for children. Another for the future move of First Independence Bank. project would place the development of a news- The Sanibel Colored School's deed was first issued paper written and designed by Sanibel in 1929 and its first teachers were Angelita Stafford Elementary School students under the Optimist Swain George and Hazel Hammond. Records indicate umbrella. the teacher's employment dates back to 1924, , Optimist Clubs conduct a wide range of ser- although no building existed until 1929. vice projects directed toward meeting the needs of the community's youth. Optimist International is one of the world's largest and most active service-club organiza- An Australian pine used to stand right here. Women's Fellowship to meet tions, with over 175,000 members in more than The former tree has been reduced to a mound 4,300 clubs across the United States, they directly Charismatic Women's Fellowship of Florida, serve over five million young people each year. of chipped wood. an outreach of Love and Grace Fellowship, will Each Optimist Club develops its own agenda hold its bi-annual meeting at the Radisson Inn in of activities, selecting from these international Fort Myers Saturday, Sept. 20 at 9 a.m. All programs, as well as developing its own project women of Like-Minded Faith are invited. ideas to meet the needs of the clubs particular Dr. Buddy Harrison will be a special guest community. speaker at Love and Grace Fellowship 12400 Plantation Road Fort Myers Sunday, Sept. 21 for For more information please call Roz Wegryn both the 10:30 a.m. and the 6 p.m. services. at 395-9355. LAZY LAWSUIT 'from page 1A what I had to do. I never got my calls for him to make repairs and the BMRH program in 1986. rent money and now I want them honor his contract with the city," "As far as I'm concerned, if he out," Thompson said. Hyatt said explaining that CHR wants to bring it on, he can," Pritt Hyatt explained that pointed to 26 repairs that needed said of Thompson's threat of a A worker on the roof is shown making the Thompson's rent money is been to be made and that Thompson counter suit. "We will fight it." adjustments the city said was a no-no. held in escrow for three months made all but seven of the repairs. Hyatt said CHR already has ten- and he will get his money once the Sanibel City Attorney Bob Pritt ants selected for the apartment. repairs are completed. said if Thompson intends on evict- "They're waiting to go in," Weather "We're seeking specific and ing CHR, it would be a violation Hyatt said.